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Molinaro Leverages NDAA Committee Post To Find Common Ground & Secure Big Wins for Upstate New York

Molinaro Successfully Advocated for NDAA to Include Three Measures He Authored, Funding for Local Defense Manufacturers, More Support For Military Families

Washington, December 14, 2023

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. The passage of this bill comes after the House and Senate passed its own versions of the NDAA. Rep. Molinaro was selected to serve on the NDAA Conference Committee, which included Democrat and Republican members from the House and Senate. Together, they found common ground on a bipartisan NDAA that will be signed into law.

The NDAA authorizes the budget and expenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense. This NDAA includes Rep. Molinaro-authored measures to improve mental healthcare for military families, ensure access to Narcan, and bolster national defense. Critically for Upstate New York, the NDAA authorizes funding for Lockheed Martin in Owego, BAE Systems in Johnson City, Ducommun Incorporated in Coxsackie, and supports much of the local defense industry.

Rep. Molinaro said, “Serving on the NDAA Conference Committee allowed me to play a pivotal role in bridging the political divide and securing wins for Upstate New York. I helped get legislation that will be signed into law to enhance mental healthcare and expand access to Narcan (naloxone). I also fought to deliver a massive pay raise for our service members and additional funding for local defense manufacturers. This bipartisan bill is a win for national security, military families, and local workers.”

Summaries of Molinaro’s bipartisan measures included in NDAA:

  • Requires a report on programs to support mental health and wellness for children in DoD-operated schools.
  • Requires the DoD to ensure Narcan (naloxone) is made available to servicemembers to prevent fatal overdoses.  
  • Requires a study to identify potential vulnerabilities in U.S. military systems and infrastructure that could be exploited by adversarial AI applications.

Other key provisions in the NDAA:

  • Supports a 5.2% pay raise for our servicemembers, the largest in over 20 years.
  • Includes Parents Bill of Rights for Military Schools.
  • Authorizes $38 million over the budget request for new family housing.
  • Reduces out of pocket childcare expenses for military families.
  • Authorizes over $280 million to build new schools for military children.
  • Funds and expands programs to deter Chinese aggression.
  • Rejects the Biden administration’s effort to reduce the size of the Navy.
  • Increases funding to research and develop advanced technologies to defend Israel.
  • Provides a path back into service for 8,000 service members who were improperly discharged for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Reiterates that no funds may be spent on drag shows.